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The Kevin and Charlotte Rohlfing family, who were recognized as the Gasconade County Farm Family, and their friends, the Alan and Jessica Gloe family, who were recognized as the Warren County Farm Family, attend the 2025 Missouri Farm Family Dinner at this year’s Missouri State Fair in Sedalia in August.
Faith and family help motivate Missouri Farm Families
The Kevin and Charlotte Rohlfing Family of Rhineland and the Jason and Gina Pollard Family of Leonard were among the Missouri Farm Families honored on Aug. 11, Farm Family Day at the 2025 Missouri … more
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A spun wooden sculpture by Father David Means, depicting a heart in the hand of God, stands near a stained-glass window created by Jim Wisch in the Catholic Charities Center in Jefferson City.
The invitation to love
I wasn’t there, but I can feel her racing heartbeat — feel her hands shake as she turned off the ignition, letting the hum of the engine die and the radio cease, leaving only the thump, … more
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Accompanied by Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski of St. Louis, principal consecrator, and Cardinal Christoff Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, Bishop Ralph B. O’Donnell takes his place in the bishop’s chair in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City, Missouri, during his ordination and installation as the fifth bishop of Jefferson City on Oct. 28, 2025.
Bishop O’Donnell becomes shepherd of Jefferson City diocese
Bells rang, incense billowed, and Bishop Ralph B. O’Donnell let out a sigh, smiled at heaven and signed himself with the cross. His time as shepherd of the Diocese of Jefferson City was … more
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Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell elevates the Precious Blood at Mass on Sept. 19, during his first visit to the Alphonse J. Schwartze Memorial Catholic Center in Jefferson City.
A time to pray and celebrate
This special keepsake edition of The Catholic Missourian is both a welcome and an introduction to the fifth bishop of Jefferson City, Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell, a priest of the … more
Monsignor Robert A. Kurwicki, diocesan administrator
Statement of welcome from diocesan administrator
The following is a statement from Monsignor Robert A. Kurwicki, administrator of the Diocese of Jefferson City:   Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever! On behalf of the … more
Janie O’Donnell, center, and her sons and daughters gather in the front yard of their home next door to Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Omaha, Nebraska. The youngest is Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell.
Growing up O’Donnell — Family life had a profound influence on new bishop
SCROLL THE ARROWS to see more photos. Terrance O’Donnell was purchasing a grocery store to support his growing family. Turns out, it wasn’t the only property available. … more
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Archbishop Elden F. Curtiss, now retired, of Omaha, imposes hands on Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell as part of ordaining him to the Priesthood on June 7, 1997.
A clear calling, acted upon when the time was right
Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell cannot imagine his life without the Priesthood. “I’m so grateful that God has called me to be a priest,” he said. “I know the gifts … more
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Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell pauses for a photo while visiting with parishioners at the St. Margaret Mary Parish Fall Festival in Omaha on Sept. 28.
Bishop-elect sees joyful service as a natural response to God’s infinite goodness
“Servite Domino in Laetitia.” Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell chose this verse from Psalm 100, “Serve the Lord with gladness,” to be his motto as a bishop. … more
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Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell stands outside St. Margaret Mary Church in Omaha on Sept. 28, after offering his last Mass there as pastor. He led the parish for nearly six years.
Bishop-elect O’Donnell’s Omaha parishioners predict great things for him
CLICK HERE to see a related photo gallery. “Jefferson City, you’re getting a good man.” Deacon Michael Conzett seemed to speak for all of St. Margaret Mary Parish in … more
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Pope Leo XIV greets Bishop Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell of Jefferson City on Sept. 11 in the atrium of the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican.
Meeting pope, nearly 200 other new bishops deepened Bishop-elect O’Donnell’s wordview
Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell recently spent a week in Rome learning some of the basics of serving as a bishop. He also got to meet Pope Leo XIV. “It was wonderful to greet … more
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Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell recalls a telephone call he received from Bishop Emeritus John R. Gaydos of Jefferson City, during a vigil service on Sept. 15, the evening before Bishop Gaydos’s Funeral Mass in the Cathedral of St. Joseph.
Biography of Bishop-elect Ralph O’Donnell
Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell was born in August of 1969 in Omaha, Nebraska, the 10th and youngest child of Mary Jane and the late Terrance O’Donnell. He grew up in Our Lady of … more
Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell stands next to the cross marking the priests’ section of Resurrection Cemetery in Jefferson City, where two of his predecessors are at rest. “I may well be buried here someday,” he said.
A new bishop for a vast, historical diocese
Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell is set to become the fifth leader of a relatively new diocese but one with Catholic roots stretching back to the early 1800s. A textured mosaic The … more
Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell pauses in front of a statue of the Blessed Mother in Immaculate Conception Church in Jefferson City while visiting the city on Aug. 19.
Omaha archbishop: ‘You’re getting one of our best’
The nuncio called to tell the archbishop of Omaha, Nebraska, that one of his priests had been appointed to lead the Church in central and northeastern Missouri. It was Bishop-elect Ralph B. … more
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Deacons John Hill and Raymond Purvis hold the Book of the Gospels over Bishop (now Archbishop) Shawn McKnight’s head during the Mass for his ordination and installation as bishop of Jefferson City on Feb. 6, 2018.
Ordination of a bishop is filled with beauty, ancient symbolism
The ceremony of episcopal ordination takes place during the celebration of the Eucharist. The Scripture readings chosen by Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell for his ordination will be from … more
Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell’s uncle, the late Monsignor Edward C. O’Donnell, who was a U.S. Army chaplain in World War II, brought the carved image of Christ back with him from Germany. The priest’s brother made the cross for it. Msgr. O’Donnell displayed it prominently throughout his priestly ministry, then presented it to Bishop-elect O’Donnell upon retiring.
Behold the wood of the cross
The crucifix in Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell’s office is saturated with memory and meaning. The image of Christ was carved in Oberammergau, Germany. The bishop-elect’s … more
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Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell and Archbishop Emeritus George J. Lucas, who led the Omaha archdiocese from 2009 until May of this year, attend an event in 2022.
Retired Omaha archbishop sees bishop-elect as strong collaborator, consensus-builder
Archbishop Emeritus George J. Lucas of Omaha, Nebraska, offered some advice to Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell upon learning that he had been appointed to lead the Jefferson City diocese. … more
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Coat of Arms of Bishop Ralph B. O’Donnell, fifth bishop of Jefferson City
Description The Roman Catholic Church has long used heraldry for authenticating seals and marking times and deeds of its shepherds. The shield’s unique design is meant to identify and … more
Bishop-elect Ralph B. O'Donnell prays in a pew of the Proto-Cathedral of St. Peter in Jefferson City while visiting the city for the first time on Aug. 19.
Two priests share thoughts on prayer
How can the people of this diocese help their new bishop become everything God intends for him to be? “Pray,” said Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell. “Pray for me that God … more
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Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell and Archbishop W. Shawn McKnight of Kansas City in Kansas, who led the Jefferson City diocese from 2018 until May of this year, stand with fellow bishops and priests outside the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City on Sept. 16, 2025, following the Funeral Mass of Bishop John R. Gaydos, who led the diocese from 1997-2018.
Crossing paths with those who went before him
Through the years, Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell had the opportunity to meet and interact with three of the four previous bishops of this diocese. “When I was a seminarian at … more
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Ancient symbols of a bishop and his ministry
Here is a description of some of the symbols, rooted in Sacred Scripture and centuries of Church history, that help identify a bishop and his important role in the life of the Church: Crosier … more
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